Adjustable livestock runway



y 13, 1965 L. D. souKuP 3,194,213 ADJUSTABLE LIVESTOCK RUNWAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1964 INVENTOR. LAWRENCE D. Scum/P M BY viva/M ATTQPNEYS July 13, 1965 1.. D. SOUKUP ADJUSTABLE LIVESTOCK RUNWAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1964 IN VENTOR. L A WPE/VCE D. 5' 0 UKL/P A 7" TOP/\IE Yrs United States Patent 3,194,213 ADJUSTABLE LIVESTOCK RUNWAY Lawrence D. Soulrup, Wagner, S. Dak. Filed May 5, 1964, Ser. No. 365,113 9 Claims. (Cl. 119-98) This invention relates generally to livestock runways, and more particularly to adjustable wall sections for stock runways, for the purpose of confining an animal during branding, dehorning, medical injections, and the like.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a fence or runway side wall section which may be selectively moved between a position relative to an opposite runway wall to permit free passage therebetween of stock, and other positions which tend to deter passage of the stock through the runway sufiiciently to enable the operator to perform the necessary or desired operations on the stock.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a runway wall section that may be tilted toward or away from an opposite runway wall and releasably locked in different positions of tilting movement thereof.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a runway wall section as set forth, which utilizes a duplication of parts to provide for simplicity of manufacture.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a runway wall section which may be easily disassembled for shipment, which in its disassembled condition occupies a relatively small space, and which may be quickly and easily reassembled for use without the necessity of special tools.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a runway wall section which is relatively inexpensive to produce, which is highly efiicient in operation, and which is rugged in construction and durable.

To the above ends, I provide a frame comprising a plurality of like elongated generally vertically spaced parallel longitudinal frame members of circular cross section and a plurality of like cross frame members having parallel transverse tubular portions at their opposite ends reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a livestock runway incorporating this invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is an end view of FIG. 1, as seen from the right,

some parts being broken away and some parts shown in section;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2, some parts being broken away;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary View in side elevation of one of the cross frame members of this invention;

3,194,213 Patented July 13, 1965 FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary exploded view in plan of one of the braces of this invention; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary exploded view in plan of one of the frame mounting devices of this invention.

Referring with greater detail to the drawings, a livestock runway is shown fragmentarily as comprising a pair of laterally spaced generally upright fence or wall sections 1 and 2. Although the wall or fence section 1 is shown as being in the nature of a fence portion, the same may be a building wall or any other elongated upright structure. The wall section 2 is a movable portion of a longitudinally extending stationary fence or wall, not shown, but which may be assumed to be substantially aligned therewith in predetermined laterally spaced relation to the fence or wall section 1.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, the movable wall section 2 comprises a generally rectangular frame 3 preferably made from rigid metal tubing and including elongated generally horizontally disposed bottom, intermediate and top frame members 4, 5 and 6 respectively, and generally upright cross frame members 7, 3 and 9. The longitudinal frame members 4-6 are substantially equal as to diameter and length, the cross frame members 7-9 being substantially identical in structure. Each of the cross frame members 7-9 are provided with transverse tubular portions 10 at their lower ends, similar transverse tubular portions 11 centrally between their ends, and similar transverse tubular portions 12 at their upper ends, the transverse portions 10-12 having parallel axes and adapted to slidably receive the longitudinal frame members 4-6 respectively. As shown, the cross frame members 7 and 9 are disposed at the opposite end portions of the longitudinal frame members 4-6, the cross frame member 8 being disposed substantially centrally between the members 7 and 9.

The transverse frame members 7-9 rigidly hold the longitudinal frame members 4-6 in spaced parallel relationship, and are each provided with a plurality of axially spaced holes 13 for reception of nut-equipped bolts or screws 14, by means of which a plurality of longitudinally extending planks or boards 15 are rigidly secured to the cross frame members 7-9, the planks 15 defining a wall surface of the wall section 2 disposed in laterally spaced opposed relationship to the fence or wall section 1.

For the purpose of mounting the movable wall section 2 for swinging movements toward and away from the opposite wall section 1, I provide a pair of anchoring devices 16, one each disposed adjacent a different one of the transverse cross frame members 7 and 9. Each of the anchoring devices 16 comprises a tubular member 17, and an elongated cooperating rod or tube 18 slidably telescopically received in the tubular member 17 for extending and retracting movements relative thereto. The members 17 and 18 are generally horizontally disposed and extend laterally outwardly from the bottom longitudinal frame member 4, the rod or tube .18 having welded or otherwise rigidly secured to its outer end a transverse tubular portion 19 that encompasses a portion of the bottom longitudinal frame member 4 and permits free rotation of the member 5 therein. The outer end of the tubular member 17 of each anchoring device 16 is rigidly secured, by means of a bolt or the like 20, to an anchoring block 21 embedded in the ground laterally outwardly of the walls section 2. The tubular member 17, adjacent its inner end, is provided with an opening 22 extending diametrically therethrough and which is alignable with selected ones of a plurality of axially spaced diametrical openings 23 in the cooperating rod or tube 18; and a headed pin or the like 24 is inserted through the openings 22 and a selected one of the openings23 to releasably lock the rod or tube 18 against extending and retracting movements relative to the tubular member 17, and consequent movement of the bottom longitudinal frame member 4, toward and away from the opposite chute side wall 1. With this arrangement, the width of the bottom portion of the chute between the wall sections 1 and 2 may be adjusted to accommodate animals of different sizes. it will be noted that the tubular portions 19 of the members 13, as well as the tubular portions it) of the cross frame members 7, S and 9, rest upon the ground, so that swinging of the wall section 2. toward or away from the opposite wall section 1 may be accomplished with relative ease.

Means for supporting and releasably locking the wall section 2 in different positions of swinging movement on the axis of the bottom longitudinal frame member 4 comprises a pair of braces 25 each comprising a pair of cooperating tubular members 26 and 27, the latter of which is telescopically slidably received within the former whereby the tubular member 26 partakes of extending and retracting movements relative to the member 27. At its other end, each tubular member 26 has welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereto a transverse tubular portion 28 that rotatably encompasses the intermediate longitudinal frame member 5. At its outer end, each tubular member or brace section is provided with a transverse tubular portion 29 that is journalled on a tubular pin or shaft 39, the axis of which is disposed in laterally spaced parallel relation to the axis of the intermediate longitudinal frame member 5. The tubular shafts 3t) arepreferably axially aligned, and are bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to anchoring blocks 31 embedded in the ground laterally outwardly of the side wall section 2. As shown in FIG. 8, the tubular brace member 26 is provided with a transverse aperture 32 that is adapted to be selectively aligned with any one of a plurality of axially spaced transverse apertures 33 in the brace member of section 27 for insertion therethrough of a headed pin or the like 34. Thus, when it is desired to change the angle of the plane of the chute wall section 2 relative to the fixed wall 1, it is only necessary to remove the locking pins 34 from the braces 25, shift the wall or fence section 2 to the desired angle and re-insert the locking pins 34 through the apertures 32 and whichever aperture 33 is in alignment therewith.

When it is desired to treat a group of animals of a given average size, the movable Wall section 2 is adjusted relative to the opposite side Wall 1, so that a minimum clearance between the sides of the animal and the wall sections 1 and 2 is obtained. Preferably, the bottom edge of the wall section 2 is positioned closer to the opposite wall section it so that the animal must lean slightly toward the movable wall section 2. Thus, the animal is slightly off balance and is discouraged from lunging and rearing, and can be easily treated. In the event that an animal should fall and find it difficult to regain its footing, it is a simple matter to pull the pins 34 and swing the wall section 2 toward its limit of outward swinging movement, as indicated by dot and dash lines in FIG. 2 until the animal has regained its footing. If this is not sufficient, the pins 24 may be pulled and the bottom portion of the wall section 2 may be moved bodily away from the wall section 1 to provide a sufficiently wide passage for the animal to regain its footing. Further if desired, the plank 15 may be provided with suitable openings, not shown, through which the operator may gain access to an animal confined between the walls.

In the embodiment of the invention shown, most of the parts which make up the frame 3, anchoring devices 16 and braces 25 are made from commercially available metallic tubing such as steel tubing, needing only to be cut, welded and drilled for completion thereof. Inasmuch as the longitudinal frame members 4-6 are slidably contained within their respective tubular portions of the cross members 7, 3 and 9, anchoring devices 16 and braces 25, it is a relatively simple matter to disassemble the entire wall section 2; and when thus disassembled, the varions parts may be made into a relatively compact bundle for shipping or storage.

It will be further appreciated that, while I have shown the brace members 25 as being operatively connected to the intermediate longitudinal frame member 5, the use of tubular brace members similar to the members 2e and 27, but of greater length, may be used and operatively connected to the top longitudinal frame member 6 instead of the intermediate member 5, if such arrangement is desired. Still further, if desired, a second movable wall section 2 may be substituted for the stationary wall section 1, being disposed in opposing relationship to the wall section 2 shown in the drawings. Such an arrangement provides an increased range of adjustment between the opposing wall sections.

It should be noted that the runway wall section 2 is preferably of such length that a plurality of animals may be disposed in a line therebetween and the opposite runway wall. As hereinbefore mentioned, the animals while passing through the runway, are slightly off balance, and

in this condition are deterred from climbing upon a pre-- ceding animal in the runway, By the use of my runway structure I have been enabled to treat animals at an increased rate of speed than has been possible with presently known squeeze chutes which accommodate but one animal at a time.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the objectives set forth; and, while I have shown and described a commercial embodiment of my livestock runway wall section, it will be appreciated that the same is capable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an adjustable livestock runway, a movable wall section adapted to be disposed in laterally spaced relation to an opposite cooperating side wall of a chute, said section comprising:

(a) a generally rectangular frame including an elongated generally horizontally disposed bottom frame member a-dapted to extend longitudinally of said chute, a second longitudinal member disposed in upwardly spaced parallel relation to said bottom member, and cross frame members at opposite end portions of said longitudinal members and generally normal thereto, said cross frame members holding said longitudinal members in said spaced apart parallel relationship,

(b) frame mounting means for mounting said frame for swinging movements about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of said frame at the bottom portion thereof,

(c) and adjustable means for supporting and releasably locking said frame in different positions of said swinging movement thereof and comprising:

(1) a pair of elongated cooperating brace members connected for longitudinal extending and retracting movements of one thereof relative to the other thereof,

(2) means pivotally connecting one of said brace members to said second frame member on an axis parallel to the axis of swinging movement of the frame,

(3) means for pivotally anchoring the other of said brace members to the ground laterally outwardly of said frame and on an axis parallel to the axis of swinging movement of said frame;

(4) and a locking device releasably locking said brace members together in different positions of said extending and retracting movements of one thereof relative to the other thereof.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said longitudinal frame members are characterized by aligned cylindrical opposite end portions, said cross frame meme bers each having spaced tubular portions for reception of said cylindrical end portions.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 further characterized by a plurality of longitudinally extending planks secured at their opposite end portions to said cross frame members and defining wall surface portions of said wall section.

4. The structure defined in claim 1 in which one of said brace members comprises a tube, the other of said brace members being telescopically slidably received in said tube.

5. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said frame mounting means comprises a pair of generally horizontally disposed extensible and contractible devices projecting laterally outwardly from the bottom portion of i said frame, said devices being pivotally secured to said bottom frame member in longitudinally spaced apart re- 'lationship and adapted to be anchored to the ground in laterally outwardly spaced relation to said bottom frame member, whereby the axis of swinging movement of said frame may be shifted laterally.

6. In an adjustable livestock runway, a movable wall section adapted to be disposed in laterally spaced 'relation to an opposite cooperating side wall of a chute, said section comprising:

(a) a generally upright frame including:

(1) an elongated generally horizontally disposed bottom frame member of circular cross section adapted to extend longitudinally of said chute,

(2) .a second longitudinal frame member substantially identical to said bottom frame member,

(3) and a pair of cross frame members each having a transverse tubular portion at one end for reception of a different end portion of said bottom frame member and each having a sec ond transverse tubular portion spaced from said first mentioned tubular portion for reception of a different end portion of said second longitudinal frame member to support said second frame member in upwardly spaced parallel relation to said bottom frame member,

(b) means mounting said frame for swinging movements about the axis of said bottom frame member,

(c) and adjustable means for supporting and releasably locking said frame in different positions of said swinging movement thereof and comprising:

(1) a pair of elongated cooperating brace member connected for longitudinal extending and retracting movements of one thereof relative to the other thereof,

(2) means pivotally connecting one of said brace members to said second frame member on an axis parallel to the axis of swinging movement of the frame,

(3) means for pivotally anchoring the other of said brace members to the ground laterally outwardly of said frame and on an axis parallel to the axis of swinging movement of said frame,

(4) and a locking device releasably locking said brace members together in different positions of said extending and retracting movements of one thereof relative to the other thereof.

7. The structure defined in claim 6 in which said means for pivotally connecting one of the brace members to said second frame member comprises a tubular element secured to and extending transversely of said one of the brace members, and rotatably encompassing said second frame member intermediate said cross frame members.

8. In an adjustable livestock runway, a movable wall section adapted to be disposed in laterally spaced rela- 7 tion to an opposite cooperating side wall of a chute, said section comprising:

(a) a generally rectangular frame including:

(1) elongated generally horizontally disposed similar bottom, intermediate and top frame members of circular cross section adapted to extend longitudinally of aid chute,

(2) and a plurality of like elongated generally vertical cross frame members each having parallei transverse tubular portion at its opposite end-s for reception of said top and bottom frame members and a transverse central tubular portion parallel to said first mentioned tubular portions for reception of said intermediate frame member,

(3) said cross frame members being disposed in spaced apart parallel relationship longitudinally of said horizontally disposed frame members,

(b) frame mounting means mounting said frame for swinging movements about the generally horizontal axis of said bottom frame member with said bottom frame member disposed adjacent the ground,

(c) and a pair of adjustable braces for supporting and releasably locking said frame in different positions of said swinging movement thereof, each of said braces comprising:

(1) a tubular member and a cooperating member telescopically slidably received in said tubular member,

(2) one of said members having an outer end comprising a transverse tubular portion for rotatably receiving a portion of one of said intermediate and top frame members,

(3) means for pivotally anchoring, the other of said members to the ground laterally outwardly of said bottom frame member and on an axis parallel to the axis of swinging movement of said frame,

(4) and means for releasably locking said brace members in different adjusted positions of said telescoping engagement.

9. The structure defined in claim 8 in which said frame mounting means comprises a pair of adjustable anchoring devices disposed in spaced relationship longitudinally of said frame, each of said anchoring devices comprising: (a) a pair of elongated sections one of which is slidably telescopically received within the other thereof,

(b) one of said sections having an outer end comprising a transverse tubular portion adapted to rest upon the ground and rotatably receiving a portion of said bottom frame member,

(0) the other of said sections having an outer end adapted to be anchored to the ground laterally outwardly of said bottom frame member,

(d) and means for releasably locking said sections in different adjusted positions of telescoping engagement thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,639,879 8/27 Burlington 29661 2,279,840 4/42 Robinson et al. 119--98 2,446,769 8/48 Keirsey 119-98 2,804,046 8/57 Turner 119--99 2,912,715 11/59 Moss 119-99 2,991,755 6/61 Ekren et al. l1998 SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner. ALDRICH F. MEDBERY, Examiner. 

8. IN AN ADJUSTABLE LIVESTOCK RUNWAY, A MOVABLE WALL SECTION ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED IN LATERALLY SPACED RELATION TO AN OPPOSITE COOPERATING SIDE WALL OF A C HUTE, SAID SECTION COMPRISING: (A) A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR FRAME INCLUDING: (1) ELONGATED GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED SIMILAR BOTTOM, INTERMEDIATE AND TOP FRAME MEMBERS OF CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION ADAPTED TO EXTEND LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID CHUTE, (2) AND A PLURALITY OF LIKE ELONGATED GENERALLY VERTICAL CROSS FRAME MEMBERS EACH HAVING PARALLEL TRANSVERSE TUBULAR PORTIONS AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS FOR RECEPTION OF SAID TOP AND BOTTOM FRAME MEMBERS AND A TRANSVERSE CENTRAL TUBULAR PORTION PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST MENTIONED TUBULAR PORTIONS FOR RECEPTION OF SAID INTERMEDIATE FRAME MEMBER, (3) SAID CROSS FRAME MEMBERS BEING DISPOSED IN SPACED APART PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED FRAME MEMBERS, (B) FRAME MOUNTING MEANS MOUNTING SAID FRAME FOR SWINGING MOVEMENTS ABOUT THE GENERALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS OF SAID BOTTOM FRAME MEMBER WITH SAID BOTTOM FRAME MEMBER DISPOSED ADJACENT THE GROUND, (C) AND A PAIR OF ADJUSTABLE BRACES FOR SUPPORTING AND RELEASABLY LOCKING SAID FRAME IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS OF SAID SWINGING MOVEMENT THEREOF, EACH OF SAID BRACES COMPRISING: (1) A TUBULAR MEMBER AND A COOPERATING MEMBER TELESCOPICALLY SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, (2) ONE OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING AN OUTER END COMPRISING A TRANSVERSE TUBULAR PORTION FOR ROTATABLY RECEIVING A PORTION OF ONE OF AID INTERMEDIATE AND TOP FRAME MEMBERS, (3) MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY ANCHORING THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS TO THE GROUND LATERALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID BOTTOM FRAME MEMBER AND ON AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID FRAME, (4) AND MEANS FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING SAID BRACE MEMBERS IS DIFFERENT ADJUSTED POSITIONS OF SAID TELESCOPING ENGAGEMENT. 